Full House: Junior shares experience of living with three other siblings

Having immediate access to the bathroom is something that most people take for granted. As the third of four children, junior Feargus MacFhionnlaoich counts himself lucky when there’s no line in the morning.

“I don’t mind sharing, but never having had my own room is annoying,” MacFhionnlaoich said. “My siblings can get irritating, but we all get along.”

Despite having two older sisters who were focused on academics, MacFhionnlaoich feels that his parents simply expect him to try his best and meet his own goals in school.

“My parents are more lenient on me and my brother, if our sisters set a good example,” MacFhionnlaoich said.

MacFhionnlaoich’s oldest sister, Niamh, attends UC Davis. His sister Sinead graduated from SHS last year, and his younger brother Conall is currently a freshman. Feargus spends time with his siblings in a variety of ways.

“My sister gives me rides when I don’t have a car; my other sister helps me with homework; and my brother and I play video games together,” he said. “We argue, but we also joke around a lot.”

MacFhionnlaoich believes that being the third-born child is the best position.

“The eldest sets the examples, has to be the most mature, and has to mind the annoying younger siblings. The second has to measure up to the first, and the fourth is the youngest and has the least privileges. The third child gets lessons from the older siblings’ successes and failures and knows how to improve,” MacFhionnlaoich said. “Third rocks.”